Thanksgiving sides: Survey finds 80% of Americans prefer them to turkey
Campbell's State of the Sides Report, polling 5,017 US adults, shows green bean casserole still leads the table as turkey prices climb 8.4%.
By James Foster ·
Eighty percent of Americans say they enjoy cooking Thanksgiving side dishes more than cooking the turkey, according to Campbell's annual State of the Sides Report released Oct. 27. That figure is up 11 percentage points from 2023, and it arrives as turkey prices have risen 8.4% since September 2025, well ahead of the 3.7% overall inflation rate.
The Camden, New Jersey-based company's survey lists five sides at the top for the third year running: green bean casserole, mac & cheese, yams or sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and stuffing or dressing. The order among them has shifted slightly. Green bean casserole holds the top spot, with 67% of respondents saying the dish recalls past Thanksgivings and just 19% wanting to alter the recipe. Campbell's said the five-ingredient recipe was created in its test kitchen by Dorcas Reilly more than 75 years ago. The company added that 69% of Americans consider it best made with cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup, and that 87% reach for Campbell's Soup when making it.
Mac & cheese ranks as Gen Z's favorite side for the second year in a row. Forty-two percent of respondents said there are never leftovers, while 46% said they serve it because it is easy to prepare. Generations differ on the turkey itself: 65% of Gen Z adults and 56% of Millennials said they would be happy eating a meal made entirely of sides.
About 86% of respondents plan to serve at least four sides this Thanksgiving, with a median of five per meal. Campbell's estimates Americans will serve roughly 749 million side dishes nationwide. The survey was conducted by Reputation Leaders, which polled 5,017 US adults who celebrate Thanksgiving in August and September.
Food prices rose 2.5% in the 12 months ending in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over that stretch, rice prices climbed 7.1%, tomatoes 6.8%, and canned vegetables 3.4%. Some staples got cheaper: butter and margarine fell 7.6%, and eggs dropped 20.6%.
Retailers including Aldi, BJ's, Costco, Price Chopper, Price Rite, Sam's Club, Walmart, and Wegmans have announced Thanksgiving meal promotions.
